Loose Women’s Lynda Bellingham reveals cancer diagnosis

READ: Lynda Bellingham dies days after final Loose Women appearance was announced

One of Britain’s best loved presenters and actresses, Lynda Bellingham, has revealed the devastating news that she has been diagnosed with cancer.

The former Strictly Come Dancing contestant, whose career rose to fame playing the mother of one of the country’s most iconic families in the OXO ads, has had to postpone her appearance in the Kay Mellor play A Passionate Woman, to concentrate on her treatment.

No details of her condition have been released, but Lynda, who was a panellist on the award-winning ITV panel show Loose Women, has released the following statement:

“I’m devastated not to be able to honour my commitments to the play this year. But having toured many times before, I’m aware of the sheer stamina needed and I need to prioritise my recovery.

“That said, nothing’s going to stop me coming back next year, and I can’t wait to be ‘a passionate woman’.”

Sheffield Theatres artistic director Daniel Evans added: “A Passionate Woman is an extraordinary play about an extraordinary woman, and that woman is Lynda Bellingham.

“She is the heart of this production, and it’s inconceivable that we would do it without her. Our priority is to Lynda and her health, and we look forward to welcoming her back soon.”

After appearing twice in the Pendley Open Air Shakespeare Festival, Lynda got her big break as a nurse in an ITV afternoon soap opera of the 1970s, General Hospital.

Her other previous credits including playing Helen Herriot in the James Herriot drama All Creatures Great and Small and staring as Faith Grayshot in the 80’s comedy Second Thoughts and its sequel, Faith in the Future.

Bellingham also starred in the 14-part Doctor Who serial The Trial of a Time Lord as the Inquisitor, a character which she reprised for the Big Finish Productions audio series, Gallifrey.

We are sure you join us in wishing Linda our sincerest best wishes and hopes for a speedy recovery. Leave your comments below…